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Here is a task that I visited about 4 years ago. Since that time, the home theater PC I built has been repurposed and I need to build a new one.

Here are the core requirements for this PC and some details on what I would like to achieve.

Purpose: I am looking for a system dedicated to decoding media and serving it up to various devices throughout my home.

Price: My price point is around 500 dollars (without hard drives).

Motherboard/CPU requirements: Since this system will not be used for gaming, I would prefer to use integrated graphics. I expect the CPU to carry much of the load for decoding media or performing BRD playback. While BRD will not be in the initial system (I have a PS3 for that), I would like to ensure that the on-board video is capable of performing this decoding. Please note, decoding of BRD media, when that time comes, will occur at a point where only one other potential decode is taking place. USB 3.0 is a must. If it is advised to go with integrated graphics (as I hope to), the motherboard must have HDMI output. Audio on-board will be fine as I can always expand to a different sound card later if I decide to dedicate this system to 5.1/7.1.

Memory: I will be placing 8GB of memory in the system but would like room for expansion if I need to do so later on.

Sound: As I said above, on-board audio is fine unless there is a reason for discrete audio

Wireless: I would like a PCI, or PCIe depending on motherboard capability, 802.11n card since wireless streaming will be a key function of this device

RAID: I am currently debating between using a dedicated RAID card or just relying on Windows to perform this function with the drives I add to the system.

TV Tuner: I would like a TV tuner that I can use to perform DVR functions. Also, a good software package would be nice too

Case: I would prefer to keep this as small as possible while allowing for 2-3 drives to be incorporated into the setup. I do not need any fancy LEDs or knobs/controls.

I think that is it. Well, what do you think? Am I missing anything? Thoughts?

The system will be headless and managed via RDP and KVMoIP. Also, I will connect the computer directly to the TV as one thing I want to attempt, at some point, is to setup an XMBC style solution. My big hang up with those style solutions is that they all require a lot of configuration and there is always one or two things I find I cannot do. For example, Windows Media Center would be beautiful if I could remove the option to DELETE media after playback has completed. Why Microsoft made this a default is beyond me! (*#&%!(*&@$(*&!@$!!!!!!!

I was thinking of just using Windows for RAID. The issue with hardware RAID controllers is that if they fail, you have to get that EXACT model as a replacement, and even then with different firmwares it can be tricky.

I'll put forward a setup, maybe it can get you started tweaking it or discussion. I'll point out now that I've used AMD APUs mainly because there is nothing that can compete with them for video decoding on a price/performance scale but I'm sure you can use an i5-2500 or higher to get the same performance.

I haven't mentioned TV Tuner cards because you didn't mention single/dual tuner, just DVB-T or Hybrid or DVB-T/Ananlog/Cable. Also the US standard is different from here so I can't recommend anything specific but Hauppauge and AverMedia are usually reliable, (although even they have put out some dogs).

But I will say you don't need it to be a PCI(e) card, USB 2.0 is fine for Dual channel HD DVB-t reception. I use a TinyTwin together with DNTV Scheduler Pro which is a commercial fork of TV Scheduler Pro, (now open source). I'm not sure whether TVSP will work in an ATSC situation, (you may need to make your own stations xml file up), but I can say that DNTV SP will happily capture two HD DVB-T broadcasts over USB 2.0 without a problem, (more programs if they happen to be on the same stream - I've had five programs from two streams recording simultaneously).CPU load is approximately 15% while capturing, (Athlon II 235e @800Mhz), and I've used it on my Atom 270 netbook without any frame drops - the reason is, it's actually two programs: a java frontend running the web server/EPG etc, and a dedicated executable to do the capture.

PM me and I'll send you the IP so you can wander around in it, (change anything and I will kill you)

Anyway, something to think about/discuss/ignore.

Addendum: Here's a program that's almost identical that will work in the USA: DV Scheduler

I was using a Dell Zino with Win7 and my WHS for storage across my homes ethernet. Now setting up a jailbroken Apple TV2 and XBMC to stream media from my WHS.It is quite full featured for such a small box, instant on doesn't hurt either.

I was using a Dell Zino with Win7 and my WHS for storage across my homes ethernet. Now setting up a jailbroken Apple TV2 and XBMC to stream media from my WHS.It is quite full featured for such a small box, instant on doesn't hurt either.

The problem with an Apple TV2, at least a stock one anyway, is that it isn't capable of 1080p.